Environment Victoria has today welcomed the increased Victorian Energy Efficiency Targets announced by Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
Victoria’s Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) supports households and businesses by providing a rebate to install energy saving equipment such as LED lighting, insulation and weather seals.
The previous state government attempted to scrap the VEET program, but after a successful campaign by Environment Victoria and the energy efficiency industry it dropped legislation to scrap the program.
Environment Victoria CEO Mark Wakeham said today:
“New targets for the VEET program for the next five years give the energy efficiency industry certainty. Now they can get on with the job of making our homes and businesses cheaper to run, more comfortable to live in, and better for the environment.
“The target will rise over the next five years to a 2020 target of 6.5 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution reduction. The Andrews Government is sending a strong signal that it wants clean energy jobs and less pollution.
“These targets will need to be endorsed by the Victorian Parliament. It will be critical that the Liberal Party under new leader Matthew Guy buries its past approach of destroying clean energy jobs.
“The Victorian Liberal Party needs to demonstrate that it is prepared to develop and support responsible environment and industry development policy.
“The VEET targets have been released in the lead-up to the development of a Victorian Energy Efficiency and Productivity Strategy at the end of the year. Environment Victoria is urging the Andrews Government to ensure that the strategy makes a clear commitment to significantly improving the energy efficiency of one million low-income Victorian households.
“Aiming to improve existing homes to an average standard of 5 stars (up from the current average of less than 2 stars) would create thousands of jobs and deliver large reductions in the state’s greenhouse pollution and water use.”
For comment:
Mark Wakeham, CEO, Environment Victoria – 0439 700 501